CAMPAIGNERS fighting to keep the Royal Hospital Haslar's accident and treatment centre open 24 hours a day have urged patients to use it, so they don't lose it.

The Save Haslar Taskforce is set to visit the centre to see for themselves the specially-trained nurses at work.

They hope their visit on November 22 will raise the profile of the centre where patients from as far afield as Whiteley, Locks Heath and Fareham can have wounds, minor burns, limb fractures and sprains treated.

The visit comes after Portsmouth's health boss Alan Bedford said no decisions had yet been made about the centre remaining open 24 hours a day.

In the past Mr Bedford, chief executive of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, has pointed out that few patients use the centre at night.

Save Haslar Taskforce spokesman Peter Edgar said many people in the hospital's catchment area did not know if they could be treated there.

"To ensure the future of a 24-hour facility at Haslar, it's important we raise the profile and make sure it's used wherever possible, for minor injuries."